Getting a tattoo in Japan means forever entering the world of other people with tattoos and staying within it.

Europe and Japan gain, but US makers take a hit as buyers turn away from the thirsty monsters that have ruled the market.

Australian men's basketball team, who have never won a medal, flew Business class to the Olympics. Guess where the silver medal winning female team flew. Hint: Not Business.

You'll find all sorts of creatures at this market, writes Nicholas Jones.

Designer Karen Walker on the cool, calm charms of Tokyo.

A park in central Hiroshima - hit by an atomic bomb in August 1945 - is a poignant destination for Chris Pritchard.

A tornado has ripped through eastern Japan, killing a teenager, destroying dozens of homes and cutting power to around 20,000 households.

Nicholas Jones tries a different type of accommodation, testing his ability to cope with small spaces... and smelly feet.

Like almost everything else in Japan, bathhouse use is governed by strict rules, finds Chris Pritchard.

Japan is letting up to 16,000 people back into their homes around its leaking nuclear power plant.

A year on, Michael Dickison finds a Government keen to improve its world image while its citizens struggle on.